Tips for Construction

GUIDELINES AND RITUALS PRIOR TO STARTING CONSTRUCTION

Before starting any construction, Vaastu recommends major guidelines, that are defined here for your reference. It is suggested that before the starting any construction, we must be well prepared. Hence, the guidelines explained here will enable us to be ready for the time-consuming task of construction of a House. As Vaastu is a science, there is logic and reasoning behind every guideline. As a Vaastu Expert, I have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what you don’t.

Determination of Site Orientation

What direction the plot faces should be determined with the help of a Compass. If the axis of the plot is not parallel to the Earth’s magnetic axis, then the angle of tilt should be found. If, any of the corners is not 90 degree, it should be ensured that all the corners of the plot are 90 degree-aligned and the Compound wall should be constructed only after the proper alignment of the corners.

Clearing of Site

Next agenda in the activity list should be clearing the plot of any stones, debris, thorny bushes, shrubs etc.

Bhumi Poojan

After the plot or site is cleared, the first ritual to be done before starting the construction, is a Bhoomi Pooja. The pooja should also include the Vaastu Shanti or Vaastu Yantra Sthapana. Bhumi Poojan should be done at an auspicious time and on an auspicious day, as decided and fixed by your astrologer based on your readings. The pooja should be done in the area of the plot as per the guidelines of Vaastu.

Testing of Soil

Dig two pits of size 2ftx2ftx2ft each, preferably in the place where the sump is going to be located. Fill up one of the pits with the dug-up soil. If some soil is left over after filling, the land is good. If there is no soil left after filling up, it is average. If the hole is not fully filled, it is not good. In the other pit fill water upto the rim. If the time taken to absorb the water is more than an hour, it is good. After the water is absorbed, if there are many cracks in the hole then it is not good.

Leveling of plot

After testing of soil, the third ritual called Hal-karshana is performed. This is the leveling of the plot, wherein the site is sloped according to Vaastu guidelines for Site Slope, so that the site is at a higher level than the road level and the South-West corner is higher than the North-East corner. Vaastu also recommends that the whole site be ploughed to rid it of the past and give the soil a new life. If the land contains any Wells or other depressions, they should be filled up and leveled.

Sowing of seed

The fourth ritual called Ankura-roopan is performed after leveling of the plot. In the ritual seeds are sowed as a final offering to the memory of those who have left the place. It is also the first offering to the freshly ploughed ground.

Digging of Borewell

The next step in the process is the digging of Borewell or constructing underground water source that would provide water for construction. The area best suited for the same is preferred as North-East corner, if there is space point there.

Construction of Storage shed

After the construction of underground water source or storage, the next step is the construction of the storage shed for the building materials such as Cement, logs, iron rods Wood etc and also to be used as a house for a Watchman.

Compound Wall

Now the first step in the construction of the building is the compound wall. After completing all the above steps a boundary wall as per Vaastu recommendations should be done. It is to protect from the natural elements and from thieves.

Foundation Laying

The next step is Shilaanyaasa; that is the foundation laying ceremony. Trenches are dug for the foundation and the stone which is set apart at the time of the Vaastu Pooja, is laid first in the South-West corner of the trenches. The groundbreaking ceremony for the house should only be done during the Uttarayan period, from June 21 through December 20 when the sun is in the northern hemisphere.

DIGGING OF WELL AS PER VAASTU GUIDELINES

Every building construction requires water source. It is of prime important to have a Water source before the start of construction, since a large quantity of water is required during the building construction. However, the water source is required even for the residents who move into the house. As Vaastu is a science, there is logic and reasoning behind every guideline. As a Vaastu Expert, I have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what you don’t.

THE COMMON SOURCES OF WATER FOR A HOUSE

The most common water source in any plot is an Open Well, the Bore well, or the Municipal Water supply. The well water is drawn by a pump or can be drawn up using containers, such as buckets or RAHATS, raised mechanically or by hand.

Open wells are an excavation in the ground created by digging to access the groundwater. This water is more likely to be polluted as it is near the Earth’s surface. Bore wells are much deeper and water is acquired by driving, boring or drilling soil and rocks. Water of such sources is not uncontaminated due to its presence between rocks deep below the Earth.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING WATER SOURCE BEFORE START OF CONSTRUCTION ?

First step in the process of construction of house, in vaastu as bee described as digging of a Well. As water is available at site and can be used for the Construction. In these modern days the municipal water supply is available, still it is suggested if there is another source of water as a backup, in case of shortage. But it has been noted that the water connection is available most of the time only after the completion of the construction. So, it makes sense to have a constant source of water for the construction from your own source. IN these modern days this holds true to give first priority to the water source for construction.

If it is not possible to get water by digging a Well, or if there is the likelihood that an open Well will get polluted, then a Borewell can be drilled after consulting an expert and a water diviner, and only if there is good yield of water. The Logic- Since there is water under rocks which has accumulated by percolation of rain water, it can be tapped into by digging a borewell. Digging a Borewell is an expensive affair and if a person can afford it, I as an Architect, would definitely recommend it since he will use that much less of the Municipal water, which can in turn be useful for another person who may not be able to afford digging a Borewell.

AS PER VAASTU THE BEST POSITION FOR A WATER SOURCE

As explained earlier the water sources are well, borewell or underground storage tank. For such a source the first option is in North-East. It brings about overall prosperity for the occupants of the building. Also it is practical to have the Water Source in North-East as it would require us to leave open space. In vaastu it is recommended that North-East should be the lightest or if possible left open to sky, so that we can enjoy morning sun. Moreover, the morning Sun’s rays will purify the well water and kill the germs.

The other options are on the East or North sides of the plot. These options bring fame and prosperity respectively.

A Well / underground water storage should be avoided in the South, South-West or North-West. These options are considered inauspicious and bring ill-luck to the building owners. Also, The South, South-West and North-West corners are built up to prevent the Sun’s evening radiation from entering and heating up the rest of the house. Hence there is very little open space for a Well or even a Borewell, (which may have to be opened for maintenance and repair of the pump) in these directions.

It is strictly prohibited to have a borewell or Well in the middle of the Site. Since it becomes very difficult to design a house around such an option. a Well/Borewell which is located in the middle of the plot would require open space all around the Well for maintenance and cleaning purpose.

If you have a well and pump house very close to the compound walls it brings misfortune to the owners. Also, due to such construction the foundation of the compound wall weakens. And moreover space around the Well/Borewell is required for cleaning, maintenance and any repair work. So it is better to keep them away from the boundaries. Also Avoid a Well touching the House walls.

WATER SOURCE GUIDELINES AS PER VAASTU

The well should always have a circular cross-section, it reduces chances of collapse of the pit wall. Also looking at the angle of science; the groundwater pressure at any point along the circumference of the well is radial and hence a circular shape is more resistant to compression stresses. As Vaastu is a science, there is logic and reasoning behind every guideline. As a Vaastu Expert, I have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what you don’t.

The well should be dug after the bhoomi pooja has been performed on the site, at an astrologically auspicious time. The digging should start within three hours of the sunrise. The well shouldn’t be dug during dusk. When this principle was formulated there were no sources of proper lighting to facilitate the underground digging. And also it is safe for the human eyes during daylight. It is advisable to start the digging early and it is better to avoid digging at night as one cannot see clearly.

Avoid trees around an open Well because the falling leaves would require frequent cleaning of the open well, if not attended to may decay in water and render it useless.

STORAGE SHED CONSTRUCTION AS PER VAASTU

To provide constant and continuous supply of material we need to have storage at the construction site. The storage shed is constructed in a corner of the plot and is used for storing construction material. This structure also serves as the temporary house for the Watchman, for the period of construction. As Vaastu is a science, there is logic and reasoning behind every guideline. As a Vaastu Expert, I have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what you don’t.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF STORAGE/WATCHMAN’S SHED?

The storage shed should be constructed after the digging of the Well/Borewell. It is necessary to provide for storing of all the material like cement, wood etc. The construction of this shed in accordance with Vaastu, prevents thefts and helps in the smooth flow of the construction work. The shed serves as a protection area from the moister or rain and helps us stock material in sufficient quantity.

Watchman should be retained to keep guard of not only the under construction building but also the material. Having a watchman to take care of the material stored in the shed gives you a feeling of security and prevents thefts.

VAASTU RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STORAGE SHED

Avoid a Storage Shed in the North-East corner as it is considered as heavy. The Storage shed can be located in any part of the site except in the North or East. Since the North-East side of the site is to be kept open and is the recommended corner for the Water well/Borewell, the shed should not be placed there, as it will block the sunlight and movement around.

For the best placement of the Storage Shed prefer South-West area of the plot. The infra-red heat rays of the Sun, which are projected to the South-West will keep the material stored in the shed free from moisture. Moreover the South-West corner is the least used of all the four corners and hence the most suitable for the storage shed.

It is recommended that the Storage Shed should be demolished after completion of construction. The Storage shed should preferably be portable as it can be removed from the site after the construction is completed. It should not be used for further storage/living.

COMPOUND WALL CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES AS PER VAASTU

The Compound wall protects the plot from animals, thieves, etc and serves to demarcate the boundary of the property. As Vaastu is a science, there is logic and reasoning behind every guideline. As a Vaastu Expert, I have attempted to explain these guidelines rationally and scientifically, so that you can decide what you want to follow and what you don’t.

The third thing to be constructed after the Well and the storage shed is the Compound Wall. This should be built just before the construction of the main building begins begins. The purpose of the Compound wall is to protect the site and the material stored from the outside environment, from thieves, etc. However, if there are buildings all around the site, the Compound wall can be done after the construction.

Begin with constructing the Compound Wall in South-East. A auspicious day should be chosen for starting the construction of compound wall. Since the Compound wall is meant to protect from the elements and thieves etc, psychologically the owner will feel that he will be protected if the construction is done at an auspicious time.

It is recommended that north part of Compound Wall should be built last as it is easier to dump building materials in the open space of north area. The North and East sides are to be left open to allow moment of the air and sunlight into the House, and the building is to be built in the South-West corner.

As per vaastu recommendations the compound Wall should not be higher than the height of the House itself. If the Compound wall is higher than the house, it will cut off light to the House and will stop flow of the positive energy into the house.

The compound wall should be constructed such that it is higher and thicker in the South and West as compared to north and east side. The Compound walls on the North and East should be at least a foot shorter, if not at least few inches, than on the south and West sides. To prevent the hot evening rays of sun from heating up the house the south and west should have higher and thicker Compound wall. Where as the lower compound on the North and East shall ensure the morning Sunlight into the House.

In Vaastu scriptures it found inscribed that the compound wall should be two-thirds the height of the main door. The Compound wall should not be taller than the house but should be tall enough to give the inmates a sense of privacy.

MAIN GATE GUIDELINES AS PER VAASTU

On the compound wall, it is recommended to have at least two gates. It makes sense to have a big gate for the vehicles to enter and a smaller gate which is easier to handle near the entrance.

As per vaastu recommendations gates should be avoided in the extreme corners. It is inconvenient to open and close a gate that is fixed to the corners of the wall.

The entrance gate to the main building should be visible from the Main gate of the compound wall. While entering from the main gate it is easier to locate the door if it is in the same direction.

Vaastu does not recommend a gate in the South side. The South is not considered auspicious for an entrance, but obviously if your Site is a South facing one, the gate has to be in the South side and such gates should be remedied.

The vaastu insists on having gates open clockwise. Since the majority of the population is right-handed, it is easier to push open a door or gate in the clockwise direction.